Needle anchor



July 20, 1937. CRAWFORD 2,087,372 I NEEDLE ANCHOR Filed July 8, 1935 unmnw INVENTOR [dd/ fiauf'w d ATTORNEYS Patented. July 20, 1937 UNITED I STATES PATENT o FicE- NEEDLE ANCHOR" Edith L. Crawford, Bronxville, N. Y.

Application July 8, 1935, Serial No. 30,318

3 Claims.

. same are not in actual use.

In addition to attaining the foregoing desirable objects, the invention provides an effective and convenient means for the prevention of lost stitches on knitted work which is partially completed, particularly during the time that the work is carried on the needles when they are not in actual use. Q

The invention consists broadly in the provision of a suitable substance of pliable texture capable of being pierced by the points of knitting needles of metal or of such other materials as knitting needles are ordinarily made; for example, phenol and urea condensation products, or moulded plastics, and thelike. The pliable substance is preformed into convenient desirable shape and is convenient and gracefulform and maybe of many varying and pleasing color eflects. 'Not.

only does the shell appeal to the'aesthetic but it is designed to cooperate with the pliable material to facilitate embedding of theneedle points therein and further assists in maintaining sufllcient pressure upon the pliable material so that when the needle points are inserted therein there is sufficient frictional resistance against them to prevent the needle points from being removed except by manual withdrawal; all of which is described more in detail hereinafter.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the 'claims appended hereto, the invention itself, asto' its objects and advantages, and themanner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof; in which Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of one form of the device; v t

Fig. 2 is a view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing also the ends of knitting needles;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a of the device; i

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the form shown in Fig. 3 with a part partially cut away and showing knitting needles in anchored position;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation and partly in crosssection of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

modified form (cits-117) I I Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a further modified form showing also a two pointed knitting needle'in anchored position; and

Fig. 7 is a view in cross-section of the shown in Fig. 6. V

Referring now to the drawing in which like referencecharacters denote like parts, [0 represents an insert of pliable spongy-like material preformed to fit very snugly into shell H. The spongy-like material is preferably of an elastic form substance consisting of innumerable void or air.-

spaces confined by elastic walls forming nonuniform honeycomb partitions.

The shell ll may be made of metal or, preferably, from a phenol condensation product, such as, bakelite or the like, which may be of anyv of innumerable colors, solid or variegated. and, if

desired, to match the color of the knitting needles l2. Plaskon, a urea condensation product has been found to be very-satisfactory and is now available on-the market. The shell ll may be comprised of acylindrical side wall portion l3 having an annular shoulder H, extending inwardly at. an angle from said side wall portion I 3. The cylindrical portion may be threaded at the oppositeend as at l5. This provides the male portion for the joint formed by the blind end portion or cap; 7 which is also threaded to form the female portion of said joint. may be vfixed OnftO said cylindrical portion by any, desirable method; V a

The cylindrical. portion l3 maybe provided withv a plurality of ribs IO-disposed in parallel exteriorly, and longitudinally of said. cylindrical portion andlikewise a plurality of ribs-l6 disposed interiorly and longitudinally of said cylinder l3. Theexterior ribs 10 provide means for gripping the device when inserting the needle points i! into the pliable insert Ill. The interior ribs provide antislip projections which tend to maintain theinsert in proper position and prevent it from. undesirable movement within the shell. t v In assembling the device, the insert lllof plia-'- ble elastic material is preformed and is of a' shape to fltwithin the shell II but slightly larger than its inside dimensions.-. The insert is then pressed into position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Inasmuch as the insert when not confined is "slightly larger than the shell, it is maintained in stable position by reason of its elasticity and normal tendency to expand to its natural ,size. The ribs or projections l6 hold the insert from turning when pierced-by the needles. After the insert is placed in position, the cap H is screwed into position or otherwise fixed to the shell and forces the insert toward the shoulder ll. If desired, the cap 1| may be cemented on to said cylinder or otherwise held by suitable adhesive.

It will be apparent that the insert will tend to The cap expand to its normal size and by the pressure exerted outwardly against the rigid shell II is held firmly by reason of the resilience of the former.

The device is now ready for use as a needle anchor or guard. Ordinarily, two or more straight needles are used in manual knitting and during the course of knitting a particular piece the knitted material is retained on the needles. In the normal course of events, the piece is only'partially completed when work is. stopped for va-. rious reasons, At such times, it is desirable to make some provision for the prevention of lost stitches or, in other words, for preventingthat work which has been done from becoming un: done. The deviceof the present invention is admirably suited for attaining this desirable result. For this purpose, the endsof the needles are embedded-into the pliable insert, as shown in Fig. 2. By reason of the pliability and resiliency of the insert I made of elasticmaterial containing innumerable air voids, the points readily penetrate the insert and are held in place bythe frictional resistance set up'against the needles.

j In addition to the elasticity jahdnatural'friction of the elastic material itselfif-the void spaces tend to form vacuum cups. The needles are maintained in position and will not, without manual removal, come out. Hence, when not in use, the needles are fixed in such position as to prevent dropping of stit'cheson workthen carried onthe needles." At the same time, the device'provides a safety guard which prevents the sharp" ends of the knitting needl'esfrom accidental pricking and possible hazardous injury" to the person.

The modified form of the inventionshown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 comprises a shell 20 and an insert 2i. The shell may be made" of similar rigid material, as previously described. It' may have ribs 2 22 positioned exteriorly and longitudinally of said shell. -If desired, internal-ribs may be prov vided for purposes, 'as-set forth here'inbei'o're.

. The insert of comparatively soft, elastic and resilient material such as rubber or the lik'e but.

more dense than that previously described may be comprised of a cup shaped member 23 having a generally cylindricallyshaped side wall portion 24 closed atone end by a head 25. A plurality of holes 28 are provided in said head slightly smaller in diameter than the diameter of the knitting needles Hand 28; for which the-device is intended; a-second cup shaped member 29 which may be similar in all respects to cup shaped member 23has its open end'butted against the open end of the cup shaped member- This member comprises a generally cylindrically shaped side wall portion '30 and a head 3| having a plurality inafter described. If desired, one of the cups may j be a disc without openings serving as a bufier for needle points inserted through the openings in V the perforated head.

The perforations 28 and 32 in the headswhen two similar cups are employed are staggered so "that when needles are inserted through a head the inside surface of the opposite head may also serve as buffer for the point of a needlel By reason of the openings being smaller than the cross-sectional area of a needle, the needle when inserted therethrough will be gripped because of the resilient and elastic nature of the material of the insert and remains in fixed position. and removable only by manipulation. It will be apparent that this modifiedform accomplishes the desirable results hereinbefore mentioned.

A still further modification particularly adapted for a flexible two pointed needle 60 designed for knitting tubular work (shown in part at 6i). such as skirts and the like, may comprise a shell 50 open at both ends and provided with an insert such asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. or Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The shell may be made in two telescoping parts 5| and 52 fixed together as shown at 53 by threading or by some other methodsuch as cementing or the like. Shoulders 54 andv 55 at opposite ends maintain the insert in place, although the insert may be cemented or otherwise fixed to the shell.

It is seen from the foregoing description that theinvention provides a needle guard or anchor which not only appeals to the aesthetic but which is also most useful as a safety device for the prevention of possiblepersonal injury whichmay be caused by exposed sharp needle points when they are being carried and not in use inlaotual from the spiritof the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A needle anchor comprising apair of cup shaped members ofpliable material each having a substantially cylindrical side wall portion, heads closing one end of each of said cylindrical zportions-and.eachhaving an open end, the open,

ends of said members-being fixed together in registered relationship, at least one of said'heads having a hole therein for the insertion of a knitting needle, and the opposite head providing a buffer for the point of a needle inserted through said hole. y a 2 Inc. needle guard, a preformed shell of rigid material and a preformed insert therefor snugly fitting therein, saidinsert. comprising a cup shapedmember oi pliable resilient-material having a substantially, cylindrical side wall portion and aperforated head in anend of said cylindrical sidewall portion, and a buffer for the point of a needle opposite said perforated head.

, 3. A knitting needle guardcomprisinga pre-- formed and preshaped insert .of pliable material having a cylindrical hollow'portion closed at one end by ahead having a restricted opening therein for the insertion of a knitting needle therethrough, the material definingsaid opening being sufliciently resilient to grasp the knitting needle inserted through said opening and hold it in position; a buffer for the point of needle inserted through said opening; and a cylindrical shell of rigid material snugly fitting the peripheral outside surface of .said cylindrical hollow portion. EDITH L. CRAWFORD. 

